Method and device for making a container provided with a label

ABSTRACT

The present invention relates to a method and to Apparatus for molding a receptacle fitted with a covering label. The technical field of the invention is that of molding a receptacle out of plastics material. In a method of molding a receptacle fitted with a covering label ( 1   b ) which is inserted into the mold ( 93 ) prior to injection, the label is shaped and at least two edges of the label are joined together, after which the shaped label is placed on a male portion ( 91 ) of the mold.

PRIORITY CLAIM

This is a U.S. national stage of application No. PCT/FR98/00785, filedon Apr. 17, 1998. Priority is claimed on that application and on thefollowing application: France, Application No.: 97/05036, Filed: Apr.18, 1997.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a method and apparatus for molding areceptacle fitted with a covering label.

DESCRIPTION OF THE RELATED ART

The technical field of the invention is that of molding a receptacle outof plastics material.

The invention applies particularly to the method of manufacturing aplastic material package covered by a label over a portion of at leastone face, in particular a portion of an outside face; more particularly,The invention relates to packages such as boxes, pots, bottles, or tubes(e.g. for receiving gases, liquids, or pastes, in particular foodstuffssuch as yogurt) where the substantially one-piece structure body canhave a bottom-forming wall and one or more side walls e.g. extendingover a surface of revolution about an axis perpendicular to the plane ofthe bottom, such as a cylinder or a truncated cone; the inventionapplies more particularly, to such packages or receptacles that are ofrelatively small size, i.e. in which the largest dimension is less thanone meter, e.g. of the order of 5 cm to 30 cm.

The invention applies to this type of package as obtained by molding,generally injection molding of plastics materials, in a mold that has atleast two portions that move relative to each other: a female portion or“matrix” that has at least one cavity corresponding to the outside shapeof the receptacle that is to be manufactured, and a male portion or“core” that has at least one projecting portion corresponding to theinside face of the receptacle that is to be manufactured.

The invention also applies to such packages where the label is securedto the plastics material body by adhesion obtained by molding over thelabel, i.e. by inserting the label into the mold prior to the plasticsmaterial that is to form the body of the package itself being introducedinto the mold; The label is of a shape that matches the final shape ofthe package, and it is generally obtained from a sheet of paper orplastics material such as polypropylene in particular, which is cut outto the desired shape and covered in patterns by any conventionalprinting method.

In general, prior to each molding cycle, a plane label (i.e. a labelthat is disposed flat) is transferred to a mold, e.g. by a clamp and/orsuction cup system, generally from a magazine that contains a stack oflabels, and there are two main techniques for doing this;

A first technique uses a transfer tool (or mandrel) of a shape that issuitable for penetrating into the inside of the mold matrix. Theinitially plane label is placed around the mandrel and is simultaneouslydeformed so as to take up the outside shape of the mandrel; The labeldeformed in this way is held in contact with the outside face of themandrel by applying electrostatic forces or by establishing suction (bysucking air) at the outside face of the transfer mandrel, i.e. beneaththe label; After the transfer mandrel carrying the label has been movedfrom the storage magazine to the inside of the cavity of the matrix, themeans for holding the label on the matrix (electrostatically or bysuction) are deactivated; the label tends to return to its initial planeshape because of the relative stiffness of the material(s) from which itis made, so it separates from the transfer mandrel and comes into closecontact with at least a portion of the faces of the cavity-formingfemale portion of the mold; After the mandrel has been removed from thecavity and the core (or punch) has penetrated therein, plastics materialis introduced into the space between the core and the matrix and alsointo the space between the core and the label, thus causing the label tobe pressed against the walls of the matrix under drive from the forcesexerted thereon by the injected plastics material.

Patent FR 2 627 744 (Gizeh Sarl) describes another technique forautomatically manufacturing a receptacle with a covering label in whichlabels are transferred from the magazine to the mold by two rotaryclamps which roll the label up into the form of a cornet, the label asrolled up in this way being taken hold of by a transfer clamp whichinserts the label in the mold matrix. The rotary clamps roll the labelup into a cornet by causing the free ends of the label to overlap, andthe label rolled up into the shape of a cornet is then taken hold ofwhere its free ends overlap by the transfer clamp which inserts therolled-up label into the matrix.

Those known techniques have the drawback of generally requiring thematrix to be fitted with suction means for holding the label in place inthe cavity until the plastics material is injected.

Another drawback of methods in which a transfer mandrel is used is thelack of accuracy with which the label is positioned on the mandrel, andthe way the label deforms during and after being put into place on thetransfer mandrel; This drawback is not resolved by the above-mentionedFrench patent; consequently, the positioning of the label in the moldcavity lacks precision, and that leads to receptacles being manufacturedthat are defective because the label is in the wrong position.

Another major drawback is that accurate handling and positioning of theLabel by clamps or suction cups is not possible when the label is verythin, e.g. having a thickness of less than 80 microns; Labels that arethat thin are fragile and difficult to handle, and they tend to deformand/or move in uncontrolled manner under the effect of their own weightor under the effect of the mechanical stresses caused by mechanicalcontact between the labels and the handling members (even thoughattempts are made to minimize those forces), or indeed under the effectof electrostatic forces; In addition, their small thickness gives riseto small stiffness and that can be insufficient to enable the label toseparate spontaneously from the mandrel or other transfer means, whichcan prevent positioning and holding in the cavity of the matrix or whichcan at least make it more difficult, or indeed which can require holdingforces to be applied thereto by auxiliary means such as electrostaticmeans or pneumatic means (operating by suction).

Unfortunately, it is advantageous in some cases, in particular for thepurpose of keeping down costs, to use labels having thickness of theorder of 10 microns to 40 microns.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The object of the invention is thus to propose an improved method andapparatus for automatically manufacturing packages or receptacles thatinclude a label.

An essential object of the invention is to provide such methods andcorresponding apparatuses for implementing them to make it possible toprovide a package manufacturing cycle time that is as short as possible;the time required for injection (which can lie in the range of a fewseconds to a few minutes depending essentially on the dimensions of thepackage) is penalized (i.e. lengthened) by the time required fortransferring the label into the mold, which time can be greater than 5seconds when a mandrel is used.

From this point of view in particular, the system for transferringlabels from the magazine to the mold by means of members such asmandrels or clamps not only leads to mechanical structures that arecomplex and expensive (and which also need to be adapted to the shape ofeach label and thus need to be interchangeable in order to manufacturereceptacles in a range of shapes or sizes), but they also increase cycletime and slow down manufacturing throughput.

For example, transfer devices which have electrostatic means for holdingthe label on a mandrel suffer from a drawback which is due to the use ofelectrical voltages for causing labels to adhere by the electrostaticeffect on the receiving portions of the transfer means, thereby givingrise to electromagnetic disturbances to the operation of the apparatus,and they are also incompatible with thin films.

In addition, known transfer devices do not make it possible to positionthe free edges of the label so that they are accurately in register,i.e. edge to edge, or they are poor at so doing, thus giving rise to aresulting receptacle suffering from poor appearance and which isfragile.

The problems mentioned are made worse when it is desired to use moldsthat have a plurality of cavities; since the use of such molds givesrise to additional constraints in design (and use) because of the smallamount of space left free between two consecutive cavities through whicha label can be transferred into the mold, thereby leading to complextransfer systems being designed, and usually to the detriment of thetime required to transfer a label from the magazine to the mold cavity.

In a first aspect, the invention consists in forming a label so that ittakes up its final shape or at least an intermediate shape that is notplanar, i.e. a shape that is three-dimensional or that occupies volume,in joining together at least two free edges of the label (or indeed twoportions thereof, e.g. two small “spot” zones of the label that aresituated close to the free edges thereof). This is accomplishedpreferably by heat-sealing or adhesive so that the edges are either inan edge-to-edge configuration or else have an overlap margin, and thenin placing the label that has been pre-shaped in this way on a maleportion (or core) of the mold.

In other words, the invention consists in proposing a method of moldinga receptacle fitted with a label covering the receptacle, in which thelabel is rolled up before it is inserted into the mold, the method beingcharacterized in that the label is stabilized in its final shape or inan intermediate (non-planar) shape, e.g. a shape in which it is rolledinto a cylinder or a truncated cone, by joining together at least twoportions of the label (preferably by adhesive or by heat-sealing), andthen the stabilized shaped or pre-shaped (e.g. rolled) label is engagedon a male portion (or core) of the mold, after which the core is broughtup to the matrix with the core serving as a support for the label. Theplastics material is injected.

Because the label is put into place on the core rather than in thematrix, manufacturing cycle time can be reduced, for several reasons,and in some cases their effects can be cumulative.

First it is possible to put the label into place in “non-critical” time,i.e. simultaneously with the operation of withdrawing the receptaclemanufactured during a previous manufacturing cycle from the matrix.

Second it is also possible to engage the label (on the core) part of theway only by means of a first transfer member, and then to continue theengagement operation by means of a second transfer member; this finalengagement operation can consist merely in moving an abutment linearlyin translation along a longitudinal axis of the core (the axis ofrevolution for a frustoconical core) in order to push the label alongsaid axis; This operation therefore avoids any need to activate ordeactivate mechanical, pneumatic, or electrostatic means for grippingthe label by the transfer member and/or for holding the label on thecore; in addition, return (along a return axis) of the transfer membersto take hold of a new pre-shaped label does not require the transfermembers to perform a disengagement movement relative to the core alongan axis other than the return axis.

Third this saving in time together with accurate positioning of thelabel on the core is also favored by the fact that the pre-formed labelis stiffer, at least in one of the three dimensions, and therefore lessliable to become deformed, than is a flat sheet constituting a labelblank, i.e. a label that has not been pre-shaped and that has not beenjoined together; Because of this “intrinsic” stiffness of a shapedlabel, which is greater than the stiffness of a flat label sheet (notyet joined together), it is possible to use labels of reduced thickness.

Because it is possible to omit electrostatic means for holding the labelon the core (or punch), it is possible to place the pre-shaped label onmale mold portions that are very close together in a multi-cavity mold;This possibility is also favored by the fact that the size of thepre-formed label (in at least one of the three dimensions) is smallerthan the size of a “flat” label blank.

In multi-cavity molds, the space available between two adjacent cavitiesand/or the pitch at which the cavities are spaced is generally smallerthan the dimensions of the label when flat; under such circumstances,there is specifically no question of using electrostatic forces forrolling a flat label around a core.

In preferred embodiments of the invention, the pre-shaped label isdeformed and/or folded so as to flatten it, thereby enabling it to bestored flat. The previously shaped and flattened label is then againdeformed and/or opened or expanded, e.g. by blowing, thereby giving itagain a shape that is close to its final shape as previously impartedthereto, and the reshaped label is transferred into the mold by beingdeposited on the core.

In other words, the label as previously rolled-up (or shaped) andjoined-together (via at least two edge zones) and then flattened isstored flat and/or in a stack in a magazine. The label is then extractedfrom the magazine, and then caused to go from its rolled-up andflattened shape (or configuration) to a rolled-up and non-flattenedconfiguration, preferably by being expanded by blowing.

To transfer the label into the mold, the pre-shaped label (rolled up andexpanded) is placed or engaged (preferably in part only) on a mold coreor punch, and the final positioning of the label around the core isperformed by a thrust member (such as an actuator) which is movablerelative to the transfer member (such as an actuator); This makes itpossible to reduce the total cycle time required to manufacture thereceptacle by enabling the transfer member(s) to move back towards themagazine preferably in a single direction (or axis) only, since there isno need to disengage the thrust member.

During the operation of shaping or rolling up the label prior to storingit flat, the two free edges of the label are joined together by adhesiveor heat-sealing, either with the two free edges overlapping or elsewithout overlap, i.e. edge to edge.

The labels used are made of paper, polypropylene, polyethylene, PVC, orABS, having a thickness of not more than 80 microns, e.g. a thickness ofnot more than 50 microns; and

The total time required to transfer a label from a ready positionoutside the mold to a position where it is installed on the core, andincluding the return time, can be less than or equal to 5 seconds,preferably less than or equal to 3 seconds, e.g. about 1 to 2 seconds.

In another aspect, the invention consists in providing apparatus formolding a receptacle and for inserting a covering label into the mold,the apparatus being characterized in that it includes means fortransferring and/or depositing a pre-shaped label on a male moldportion, the pre-shaped label having two zones (or edges) that have beenpreviously joined together.

In preferred embodiments, the apparatus includes;

a storage magazine or means for storing rolled-up; shaped, and flattenedor folded labels flat and/or in a stack; and/or

The shaping means, preferably operating by expanding a label from arolled-up and flattened state (or shape) to a rolled-up andnon-flattened state (or shape); and/or

means for expanding a rolled-up and flattened label by blowing, whichmeans preferably include a plurality of nozzles pointing in differentdirections;

In the alternative, expansion can be obtained by radially deploying amechanical hinged structure which pushes back the side walls of thelabel from the inside;

The apparatus may further include at least one means such as a suctioncup, for pneumatically taking hold of a label by making contact with anoutside face of the shaped and expanded label;

The apparatus may have means for transferring the label as extractedfrom the magazine and as expanded from the magazine to the mold and forplacing it on the core, and preferably the apparatus includes distinctmeans for pushing against a label that has previously been engaged inpart around the core.

The apparatus may include a magazine for storing a stack of labelsfitted with means enabling labels (that have already been shaped,joined-together, and flattened) to be introduced to the top of thestack, The magazine can be fitted with means situated in the bottomportion of the stack and enabling shaped, joined-together, and flattenedlabels to be extracted therefrom (preferably one by one); and

the means for transferring the expanded label can include a plurality ofgripping means that operate by making contact with the outside face ofthe label, such as suction cups.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The advantages provided by the invention will be better understood fromthe following description which refers to the accompanying drawingswhich show, in non-limiting manner, preferred embodiments of theinvention.

FIG. 1 is a flat view of a piece of sheet for constituting afrustoconical label as shown more particularly in FIGS. 2 to 4.

FIG. 2 is a diagrammatic perspective view of the label in the form of afrustoconical sleeve.

FIGS. 3 and 4 are respectively a profile view and a plan view of a labelas shown in FIG. 2 after the operation of joining together its freeedges and then flattening it is performed after.

FIG. 3 is a view on the III—III line of FIG. 4.

FIG. 5 is a section view on a longitudinal plane of a frustoconicalreceptacle having an end wall and fitted on its outside face with alabel that fits the frustoconical shape of its side walls.

FIGS. 6 to 9 are diagrammatic side views of the successive steps ofextracting a shaped and folded label from a magazine containing a stackof identical labels.

FIGS. 10 to 16 show the successive operations of expanding a label thathas been shaped, joined together, and folded so as to return it to itsinitial and/or final shape.

FIGS. 11, 14, and 16 are views looking along lines XI, XIV, XVIrespectively in FIGS. 10, 13, and 15.

FIGS. 17 to 20 are diagrammatic side views of a portion of the means fortransferring expanded labels in a receptacle-manufacturing apparatus ofthe invention for the purpose of engaging an expanded label around thecore of a mold.

FIGS. 21 to 30 show successive steps of simultaneously extracting threelabels from a magazine, expanding all three labels and depositing themon an intermediate transfer support.

FIGS. 21, 23, 25, 27, and 30 are diagrammatic plan views of the magazineand of the intermediate support.

FIGS. 22, 24, 26, and 29 are diagrammatic side views seen along XXII,XXIV, XXVI, XXIX respectively of FIGS. 23, 25, 27 lines, and 30.

FIG. 28 is a diagrammatic side view in an intermediate position or stepbetween those shown in FIGS. 26 and 29.

FIGS. 31 and 32 show a variant embodiment of the means for storing,delivering, and depositing sleeve labels on an intermediate temporarysupport.

FIG. 32 is a side view on line XXXII of FIG. 31 which is a plan view.

FIGS. 33 to 36 are a diagrammatic side view of the means and thesuccessive operations involved in transferring sleeve labels from theintermediate support 404 on which they are placed by the operationsdescribed with reference to FIGS. 21 to 32, to the mold by means of amoving transfer support that receives a plurality of labels, enablingnine labels to be transferred simultaneously to the mold.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

With reference to FIGS. 1 and 4 in particular, the shaped label 1 b offrustoconical shape about an axis 6 of revolution is obtained from asheet 1 a cut out to have two circularly arcuate edges 2 and 4 and tworectilinear edges 3 and 5 that are symmetrical about an axis 9 on whichthe centers of the circular arcs traced by the edges 2 and 4 can belocated; The unfolded or flat sheet 1 a of FIG. 1 is thus in the form ofa curvilinear quadrilateral having an axis of symmetry 9.

With reference more particularly to FIG. 2, at least one portion 3 a (or5 a) of each free rectilinear edge 3 and 5 of the sheet 1 a forming thelabel blank shown in FIG. 1 can be secured to the other by adhesive orby heat sealing (particularly when the sheet is made of plasticsmaterial), so as to join the free edges 3 and 5 together, e.g. in anedge-to-edge configuration; moving the edges 3 and 5 of the sheettogether results in the label blank shown in FIG. 1 being rolled into asleeve shape 1 b or shaped label as shown in FIG. 2, which sleeve orlabel is frustoconical in shape about the axis 6 and where the lines 7and 8 that are dashed lines in FIG. 1 constitute generator lines of thefrustoconical-formed label 1 b; The generator lines 7 and 8 can be foldlines whereby the shaped label 1 b can be flattened to obtain the label1 c (shown in FIGS. 3 and 4) by applying a flattening force across thelabel in the direction of arrow 10; This gives rise to ajoined-together, shaped, and flattened or folded label 1 c which isessentially constituted by two identical portions 1 d and 1 e that faceeach other, each portion, when flat, having the shape shown in FIG. 4.

With reference to FIG. 5, the label in its shape as shown in FIG. 2,which is substantially its final shape, is intended for fitting to theoutside face of the side walls 131 of a frustoconically-shapedreceptacle 13 having an axis of revolution 12, and which may be fittedwith an end wall 132, the side walls 131 extending close to the end wall132 in the form of stand-forming flanges 133, and only the top portion(situated above the end wall 132) of the receptacle 13 being intended toreceive the product for which this packaging is designed. As shown inFIG. 5, the bottom edge 4 of the label 1 b can terminate above the stand133 of the packaging 13, as shown in solid lines, or it can extend tothe bottom of the stand 133 of the packaging, in the configuration asshown in dashed lines.

With reference to FIGS. 6 to 9, a magazine for storing labels that havealready been shaped, joined-together, and folded, which labels arereferenced 100, 103, 104, is constituted by preferably vertical sidewalls 14, a bottom wall 15, e.g. a wall that is horizontal and fixed,and a top wall 16 that is weighted, for example, and that is mounted toslide preferably vertically by means of a sliding guide 17 so as to movethe stack of labels 100, 104 on which it rests downwards (as the foldedlabels contained in the storage magazine are extracted from the bottomportion thereof).

As shown in these figures, which relate to successive operationsperformed in extracting a shaped and folded label 103 from the magazine,said label being situated at the bottom of the stack of labels 100contained in the magazine, a first step shown in FIG. 6 consists inpositioning a suction cup 19 in register with an opening 18 provided inthe bottom wall 17 of the magazine, said suction cup being mounted onthe end of a rod (or piston) 20 of a gripping actuator 21; The actuatoris mounted to move at the end of the rod (or piston) 22 of a secondactuator 23 for moving the actuator 21 in horizontal translation alongarrow 27.

In the operation shown in FIG. 7, the actuator 21 is actuated so thatthe suction cup 19 moves vertically upwards along arrow 24 until itcomes into contact with the bottom face of the shaped and folded labelreferenced 103 situated at the bottom of the stack of labels containedin the magazine, contact being made through the opening 18 provided inthe bottom wall 15 of the magazine.

In the operation shown diagrammatically in FIG. 8, the suction cup 19 towhich the label 103 situated at the bottom of the stack is adhered movesin the opposite direction along arrow 25 and begins to extract the label103 from the magazine; This extraction is continued by horizontalmovement along arrow 26 of the rod 22 supporting the actuator 21 untilthe shaped and folded label 103 has been fully extracted.

This label can then be subjected to the operations showndiagrammatically in FIGS. 10 to 16 which are applied in succession so asto expand the label back to a shape close to its original shape (i.e.its shape before it was folded) and which corresponds to a shape closeto its final shape when fitted to the packaging, which shape enables itsubsequently to be inserted into a mold by being engaged on the core asshown in FIGS. 17 to 20.

With reference to FIGS. 10 to 16, the apparatus of the invention caninclude means for deploying or expanding a previously shaped,joined-together and folded label from its folded or flattened shape toan unfolded shape, prior to depositing it on the core of the mold.

With reference to FIGS. 10 and 11 in particular, these means enablingthe label to be deployed or unfolded can essentially comprise a firstactuator 30 suitable for moving one or more suction cups 33 and 34secured to a rod 32 along a vertical axis by moving the rod 32; Inaddition, suction cups 31 are secured to the cylinder of the actuator 30by two rods or arms 37 whose bottom portions are symmetrically curved asa function of the shape to be given to the label; The label is presentedto the deployment station in its folded shape referenced 1 c by theactuator 21 (described above with reference to the preceding figures)which is fitted with a suction cup 19 to which the bottom face of thefolded label 1 c adheres.

The apparatus further includes blower means 35 preferably fitted with aplurality of nozzles 35 a, e.g. nozzles that are uniformly distributedand suitable for generating radial jets of air as shown in FIG. 16 inparticular, the jets extending away from an axis along which the blowermeans 35 can be displaced by means of an actuator 36, which axiscorresponds to the longitudinal axis 6 of the label in the deployedstate.

With reference to FIGS. 10 and 11, when the label is presented to thedeployment station by the translation movement along arrow 26 asimparted by the transfer actuator 21, the label is thus presented inregister with the suction cup means 31, 33, and 34; In a first stepshown to FIG. 12, the suction cups 33 and 34 secured to the rod 32 aremoved in downward vertical translation 38 by the actuator 30 so as tocome into contact with the top face 1 d of the label in the flattenedstate 1 c.

In the following step shown in FIGS. 13 and 14, the suction cups 33 and34 that have been secured to the top face of the label by suction, aredriven in a return direction by the rod 32, i.e. with vertically upwardmotion 39 by the actuator 30, and the side suction cups 31 are activatedto favor adhesion to that one of the side walls of the label 1 b whichtends to deploy under the effect of the traction force exerted by thesuction cups 34 and 33, The walls of the label can come into contactwith the curved arm portions 37 serving to support the side suction cups31; in this step, the suction cup 19 fitted to the actuator 21 isdeactivated so as to release the zone of the label to which it waspreviously adhered.

In the following step corresponding to that which is shown in FIGS. 15and 16, the blower means 35 fitted with air-blow nozzles 35 a are movedalong arrow 50, e.g. in horizontal translation, by the actuator 36 so asto take up a position substantially on the longitudinal axis 6 on theat-least partially deployed label 1 b, inside the label so as to blowthe jet of air via the nozzles 35 a so as to favor or completedeployment of the label, causing it to return to its initial and/orfinal shape, particularly its frustoconical or cylindrical shape aboutthe longitudinal axis 6.

With reference to FIGS. 17 to 20, the transfer means of the invention isdesigned to enable the shaped label 1 b to be positioned around andengaged on a core-forming male part 91 of a mold portion 93; In theembodiment shown diagrammatically in the figures, the male portion 91 isfrustoconical in shape, having an outside surface 92 around an axis ofrevolution 90 and terminated by a front end face 94 that isperpendicular to the axis 90; In the configuration shown in FIG. 17, thedeployed label 1 b is brought up to the male portion 91 of the mold 93,i.e. in such a manner that its own longitudinal axis 6 substantiallycoincides with the longitudinal axis 90 of the male portion 91, and itslarger longitudinal end 1 g being placed in the vicinity of the frontface or longitudinal end 94 of the male portion 91.

The transfer apparatus has a first actuator 43 suitable for moving twoactuators 40 and 44 parallel to the axes 6 and 90 by means of a rod orpiston-forming element 43 a; The actuator 40 is suitable for movingsuction cups 41 and 42 that are secured to the rod 40 a of the actuator40 along a vertical axis; this makes it possible to move the suctioncups 41 and 42 radially relative to the longitudinal axes 6 and 90. Theactuator 44 is suitable for moving an abutment 45 secured to the rod 44a of the actuator 44 in translation parallel to the axes 6 and 90.

In a first transfer step, the transfer means shown in FIG. 17 andsupporting the shaped, joined-together, and deployed label 1 b is movedby conventional means (not shown) so that the label 1 b supported by thesuction cups 41 and 42 secured to the rod 40 a is placed in line withand facing the male portion 91 onto which it is to be placed.

In the following step corresponding to FIG. 18, the actuator 43 isactivated to move the actuators 40 and 44 along arrow 46, therebycorrespondingly moving the label 1 b which is held by the suction cups41 and 42, i.e. moving it axially along the common axis 6, 90 of thelabel and the male portion 91 of the core, until the label is engaged atleast in part on the core, as shown in this figure.

The following step corresponds to FIG. 19, in which the suction cups 41and 42 are deactivated and are retracted radially along arrow 47 underdrive from actuator 40 until the label 1 b has been engaged more fullyon the male portion 91 of the core by drive from the actuator 44 movingthe abutment 45 along arrow 48 by contact (pressing) between theabutment and the rear longitudinal end 1 f of the label 1 b.

In the final engagement step shown in FIG. 20, the deployed label 1 bhas been put into position and fully engaged on the male portion 91, andthe transfer means 43, 40, and 44 in particular are disengaged alongarrow 49 to take up a position in which they can be moved to go and takehold of a new label.

Although it is preferable to store the label in its flattened (folded)shape as shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, it can be envisaged in some cases tostore the frustoconical labels in their “final” shape (i.e. theirdeployed shape) as shown in FIG. 2.

FIGS. 21 to 30 show the successive operations of taking labels in theform of folded or flattened tubes or sleeves from three respectivemagazines, of expanding the labels, and of placing them on anintermediate support which is fitted with nine conical members eachsuitable for receiving one sleeve or tube.

The carriage 499 on which the magazines 400, 401, and 402 are securedmoves (arrow A, FIG. 21) towards the first row (on the left) ofvertical-axis cones 403 for shaping the labels that are fitted to theintermediate support 404 that is in the form of a square plate.

Three pneumatic gripping means 405, 406, and 407 fitted to the magazines400, 401, and 402 respectively are actuated to take hold of respectiveflattened tubes from the magazines while moving in the direction ofarrow B (FIG. 22).

The gripping means returns (arrow C, FIG. 24) to its initial positionswhile maintaining its vacuums, thereby causing three sleeves 408 toexpand.

Three pre-forming cones 403 are advanced (arrow D, FIG. 26) into thethree sleeves 408 respectively placed in line with each of the threecones, under drive from an actuator 409 fitted to the support 404.

The vacuum supply to the pneumatic gripping means 405 to 407 (suctioncups) is switched off, and the row of three pre-forming cones returnsunder drive from the actuator 409 to its original position, with each ofthe cones 403 of the row carrying a respective sleeve 408.

The carriage 499 on which the magazines are secured moves (arrow E, FIG.28) towards another row of shaping cones, and a new cycle of grippingand removing tubes and of shaping them is started by successivemovements along arrows B, FIG. 29, then C, FIG. 24, then D, FIG. 26, andE, FIG. 28.

In a variant embodiment of the apparatus for removing and shaping labelsas shown in FIGS. 31 and 32, a central transfer zone is fitted with anintermediate transfer support 404 provided with cones 403, and on eitherside of said transfer zone, there is provided a magazine filler zonethat is accessible to an operator.

With reference to these FIGS. 31 and 32, each of two carriages 499 a and499 b is driven by a respective motor 420 a, 420 b rotating a respectivewormscrew 421 a, 421 b, with each carriage 499 moving on slideways 422via skids 423.

As shown in FIG. 32 in particular, the conical structures 403 fitted tothe support 404 can be mounted to move relative to the plate 404 by theactuator 409 in translation along the vertical axis 424 as describedabove, and also in rotation about said axis 424, making it possible inthis case to rotate the conical shape 403, thereby orienting thesleeve-shaped label placed on the structure 403 so that the joint in thelabel occupies a predetermined angular position.

With reference to FIGS. 33 to 36, the moving means for transferring aplurality of labels comprises a robot 200 fitted with a beam or arm 201having a longitudinal axis 202, e.g. a horizontal axis, which beam 201carries an arm 203 that is movable in translation along said axis 202,said arm 203 carrying a second arm 500 which is mounted to move relativeto arm 203 b along a horizontal axis 204, e.g. parallel to the axis 202;The second arm 500 receives a support plate 205 fitted with nine cellswhich serve to transfer nine sleeve-shaped labels from the intermediatesupport 404 where they have been placed using the steps as describedabove to a mold-forming part of the injection press 300; In FIG. 33,three positions corresponding to successive steps of the displacementare shown: in the position of the arm 203 that is referenced 203 a, thearm supports the plate 205 in a position where it is in register withthe male and female portions of the mold fitted to the press 300; Bymoving in translation along arrow F, the arm 203 reaches the positionreferenced 203 b in which rotation about the axis 204 as referenced byarrow G causes the plate to pass from position 205 b to position 205 cby rotating through 90°; subsequent movement in translation along arrowH brings the arm 203 into the position referenced 203 c in which theplate 205, now referenced 205 d, is in register with the intermediatesupport 404 carrying the nine sleeves 408 to be transferred into themold fitted with nine cores and matrices.

To this end, as shown more particularly in FIG. 34, the plate 205 d isprovided with cells or cavities 206 whose walls 207 are of a shape thatsubstantially matches the outside shape of a sleeve-shaped label, whichwalls 207 can have suction applied thereto by means of a vacuum sourceconnected to the plate 205 d by a pipe 208 shown in part anddiagrammatically.

In the following operations, the intermediate support 404 and the sleeve408 that it carries move vertically along arrow I under drive from theactuator 450 until the sleeves 408 are housed in the cavities 206 of theplate 205 d, corresponding to the position shown in FIG. 35; Suction isapplied to the walls 207 so as to hold the labels in the cells 206.

Thereafter, movement of the support 404 under drive from the actuator450 along arrow J (FIG. 35) brings the support 404 into the positionshown in FIG. 36; in this state, the plate 205 is subsequently moved bythe arms 203 and 500 which support it along arrows K, L, and M insuccession, with the arm 203 passing successively through the positionsreferenced 203 c to 203 d and then 203 e in FIG. 36, i.e. it followsmovements that are the reverse of those shown diagrammatically in FIG.33. This enables nine sleeve-shaped labels that are held pneumaticallyto the recessed plate 205 to be transferred simultaneously andpositioned in register with the cores 302 of the mold 301 situated inthe press 300 that is fitted with columns 303.

The storage and transfer structure that includes the moving magazine499, the gripping means 405 to 407, the intermediate support 403, 404,and the recessed plate 205 has the particular advantage of beingsuitable for use with all types of commercially-available robot 200.

What is claimed is:
 1. A method of injection molding a receptacle fittedwith a flat covering label having at least two edges and a thicknessless than or equal to 80 microns, in which method the label is insertedinto a mold prior to molding, the mold having a mold core, a mold matrixand a molding space between the core and the matrix, wherein the labelis preshaped by sealing said at least two edges together, and the methodcomprises the successive steps of: (i) gripping with movable pneumaticgripping means an outside face of the preshaped label having said atleast two edges sealed together, said preshaped label being folded in aflat configuration; (ii) reshaping the folded label in an unflattenedrolled configuration with said movable pneumatic gripping means; (iii)transferring and depositing the unflattened label onto the core by themovable pneumatic gripping means; (iv) closing the mold; and (v)injecting plastics material in the molding space.
 2. The method recitedin claim 1, wherein the shaped label material has a thickness less thanor equal to 50 microns.
 3. The method recited in claim 1 wherein: atstep (i), when gripping said folded flat labels, said folded flat labelsare stored in a stack of a magazine; and at step (ii), before reshapingsaid folded flat label, said folded flat labels are extracted from saidstack by said movable pneumatic gripping means.
 4. The method recited inclaim 1, wherein a plurality of labels are transferred simultaneously tothe gripping means.
 5. The method recited in claim 1, further comprisingthe steps of: engaging a portion of the shaped label around a mold core;and placing the label around the mold core with use of a thrustingmember.
 6. The method recited in claim 1, wherein the labels comprisepaper.
 7. The method recited in claim 1 wherein the labels comprisepolypropylene.
 8. An apparatus for injection molding a receptacle,comprising: a mold having a male portion and a female portion formolding the receptacle; and movable pneumatic transfer means capable ofdepositing a label in the mold before molding the receptacle; whereinsaid male portion is capable of receiving a covering rolled label havingat least two edges sealed together and attaching said label to thereceptacle; wherein said movable pneumatic transfer means are capable ofpneumatically gripping said label under a folded flat configuration bycontacting an outside face of said label, reshaping said folded flatlabel into a rolled unflattened configuration, and depositing the saidrolled label on said male portion of the mold; and wherein saidapparatus further comprises means for deploying and expanding said labelfrom the folded flat configuration the rolled unflattened configuration,said means expanding and deploying the side walls of said label from itsinside.
 9. The apparatus recited in claim 8 comprising: a magazine forstoring a group of flat labels in a stack wherein said folded flatlabels have been shaped in a folded configuration; and the movablepneumatic transfer means capable of gripping said folded label in afolded flat configuration by contacting an outside face of said labelwithin said stack; extracting said folded label from the stack; andreshaping said folded flat label in a rolled unflattened configuration.10. The apparatus recited in claim 8, wherein said means for deployingand expanding said folded flat label comprises movable blowers suitablefor blowing jets of air inside said folded label so as to completedeployment of said label and the movable pneumatic transfer means iscapable of gripping said outside face of the label as the label expandsto said unflattened state.
 11. The apparatus recited in claim 8, whereinthe movable pneumatic transfer means comprises a movable pneumatictransfer support element comprising a plurality of elements for holdingthe shaped and expanded label and for transferring a plurality of labelssimultaneously into a multi-cavity mold.
 12. The apparatus recited inclaim 11, wherein the movable pneumatic transfer support elementcomprises a plurality of cells each operable to receive at least aportion of an expanded label.
 13. The apparatus recited in claim 12,further comprising a robot operable to move the movable pneumatictransfer support element relative to an axis of rotation and an axis oftranslation.
 14. The apparatus recited in claim 13, further comprising:an element for engaging the expanded label in part of the mold core; andan element for thrusting the label into the core after the label hasbeen engaged in a part of the core.